A man who admitted to setting fire to a vineyard in a nature reserve in Mġarr was given a suspended sentence and placed under a supervision order yesterday.

Spiru Cini, 65, from Paola admitted to setting fire to a field and destroying protected plants, in the Riviera Nature Park on 6 April 2010.

When the defence lawyer pointed out that her client might have psychiatric problems, magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera decided the man should be examined by a psychiatrist.

Dr Mark Xuereb said the accused had experienced mental problems in the past, and had also been a patient at Mount Carmel Hospital, but he did not feel that the man was suffering any problems at the moment. Nevertheless, he said, the man was unable to consider the consequences of his actions.

The man was placed under a supervision order for four years.

The court was presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera. Inspector Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted.